If you are feeling that you are stuck in 5th gear all the time, or constantly on the hamster wheel and cannot get off then this is the article for you! In this modern world we are indeed sometimes going at breakneck speed and we forget to try to go slower in our lives. It is almost the norm to hear people going on about how busy they are, but is this good for us in the long term?

Here is where aromatherapy can help us. The essential oils are excellent at promoting a much calmer perspective, if we know how to utilise them. This can only be a win win situation. Slowing down our breathing, reducing our heart rates and blood pressure can only be beneficial for us. Lets be good to ourselves and adopt a much more calmer routine, however small. Even 5 or 10 minutes each day could make a difference. There are new routines I have managed to incorporate to my daily life, all of which don’t take much effort and have had great effects on my mind and body.

Lets look at the first essential oil, basil. This one is a goody! Perhaps not immediately known for its ability to provide focus into your life, but it certainly does! It is great for steadying the mind, allowing you to concentrate on each thing at a time, and for longer. Really good for interviews, exams, long periods of writing. Add a few drops to an aroma burner. Let the scent waft around the rooms you may be working in. Or add a few drops to a hanky and sniff throughout the day as required.

Next up is lavender. Probably one of the most well known of essential oils used today. Sharp heady fragrance can conjure up memories of scented sachets hidden in drawers. This oil can promote feelings of calmness, slows you down to a level you can cope with. It is great for helping feelings of negative stress, allowing these to dissipate and leave you ready for anything! Lavender is fabulous for helping us sleep, which shows just how much it can slow you to a manageable pace. Again you can add a few drops to an aromatherapy burner, to a hanky, or to your bath at the end of a hectic day.

Thirdly, chamomile is fantastic at alleviating the dreaded stress levels. Known for its anti-inflammatory qualities it is also useful in allowing us to calm right down. Many centuries ago the Romans brought chamomile over to Europe and it was planted in amongst paving stones. This then let the aroma of the chamomile be released as people stepped upon it. As well as being pleasing to the eye. Nowadays you can purchase chamomile as a herbal tea, and you can indeed drink it before bed, before a stressful event. The calming nature of chamomile is also well known in modern society. Just add a few drops to the aroma burner, hanky or bath or indeed take it in the tea formulation.

As with life in general its all too easy to get caught up in the whirlwind it can cause. Making an effort to stay calm is an art in itself, but you will get the hang of it. Having time to yourself is vital, not laziness. Do as much as you can to avoid the ‘busyness disease’! Good luck and peace to you, Angela